July 17, 2007

D'backs' Jackson on display for Sox?

An interesting thing happened on Monday night in Milwaukee: The Arizona Diamondbacks played their first baseman, Conor Jackson, in left field, only the second time in his big-league career he has played there.

According to MLB sources, the Diamondbacks were showcasing him for a possible trade to the White Sox, who like his bat but have a logjam in the 1B/DH roles with Paul Konerko and Jim Thome. Arizona is looking for starting pitching and scouted Jose Contreras' last start, although the Diamondbacks are believed to be interested in younger starters, including Jon Garland and the seemingly untouchable John Danks.

If the White Sox keep their four signed starters, it is possible they could deal from their stockpile of young arms, with Danks, Gavin Floyd, knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, former first-round pick Lance Broadway and crafty lefty Heath Phillips among the names in play. They also have Gio Gonzalez, Jack Egbert and Adam Russell pushing for promotions at Double-A, so you wonder if it is out of the question for them to move Danks for young hitters.

Jackson isn't having the big season that was forecast for him, batting .262 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 77 games. But he is a skilled hitter, drawing more walks (37) than strikeouts (26). The Diamondbacks are also reportedly shopping right fielder Carlos Quentin, who recently hit his way back to Triple-A.

With Justin Upton rising fast, perhaps the Diamondbacks would consider moving center fielder Chris Young, whom they got from the White Sox in the Javy Vazquez trade. Young is hitting .238 with 14 homers and 11 stolen bases in his rookie season with the Diamondbacks. These talks bear watching.

Comments

The White Sox would come out on the short end of any of the trades mentioned. Garland or Danks for Conor Jackson would be a huge mistake. Based on the way Kenny Williams has screwed up this team he just might make another bad trade like this.

Conor Jackson is a quality hitter and is more than worth Contreras. I would be concerned about him being a defensive liability given our already shaky defensive outfield. I would want quite a bit more than Jackson for either Garland or Danks.

If you look at the three all star outfielders we let go and the fact that only Jim Thome has given us anything in the last two years you'd have to say that Kenny has lost in those trades. Now he has to be strong. Get rid of Contreras for whatever. That will allow us to either sign one of our free agents or go get one at the end of the season. Would you trade Contreras and Dye's contracts for a shot at Miguel Cabrera or Dunn or Rowan or ...get my drift.

Don't want to give up Garland or Danks (who looks like a future Buehrle), but Jose Contreras, by all means if you can't get something for him then go ahead (same goes for Dye). Once he got on track after the beginning of 05 he was lights out and an intrical part of the championship squad and 90 win team from last year. Alas the time has come to say thank you for your time Jose but your cab is waiting.

I'm sick and tired of hearing about the OF we could've had...if we had held onto Mags and not traded Lee we would never have won the WS in '05. KW was responsible for putting that team together and I don't care if they had career years, a World Series championship team doesn't just happen. Concerning Contreras, Dye, Iguchi...trade them now. This team obviously doesn't have the heart if not the ability to come back and win this year. Now's the time to start rebuilding for a champion next year. Get a new bullpen (keep Jenks), sign at least one established OF, bring up Richar, Sweeney, Floyd and anyone else you want this year. Try Fields in the OF b/c Crede will need to play a bit next year to be showcased for a trade. Trade a couple of our young pitchers (not Gio! someone like Phillips or Broadway) for those spare parts that make a champion. I still believe KW is the right man for this job, let him do what he can, if next year is the same...then fire him. He has a chance right now to right the ship and get us back, but we need to get younger and more well-rounded.

what major league sources? I live in AZ and there was an article in the paper out here over a week ago that Jackson offered to play outfield if it meant more playing time for him. If the sox pull the trigger on this and give up garland for jackson it will be a huge mistake.

The best team rarely wins the World Series. It takes a hot streak at the end of September and a whole lot of luck. We are having an off year, that's all. Our big hitters were slumping for the first three months. That's why we were losing, and losing is contagious. It makes starters shaky, hitters lack confidence, and the bullpen...well you know. This exact lineup could come out next year and have the best record in the league. There is no reason to trade Dye and Iguchi, just to get a few bozos in AA. Immediately Kenny will be looking for a RF and 2B from somewhere else, because there's nobody in the minors. Winning teams trade their veterans when someone younger and better is behind them. If Sweeney could hit big league pitching, they would have traded Dye in April, but he's proven he can't.

Mr. Williams is out of his friggin mind if he trades Garland. Forget contending for anything for quite a few years if we don't keep Buerhle AND GARLAND in the core of our rotation. What does that knucklehead not understand about the importance of starting pitching?

I'm a little shaky on making a permanent move in the OF with Erstad on Pods on the DL. I really like what they bring to the game when healthy, and would hate for the Sox to move on before we are at full strength.
Dye is a great player, and I'm not convinced he is done at this point.
Recently this team has gotten a lot better in all areas except for the friggin Bullpen.
We need more relief PITCHERS, and not just THROWERS. This year really puts the '05 contibutions of Polite and Cotts into perspective...

I'm so tired of hearing about the bats; how quickly everyone forgets how the Sox were leaders in 1 run games in 05. They won opening day and closing day 1-0 against Cleveland in 05; not exactly an offensive juggernaught. This isn't a football team. The 10 run games are great, but let's focus on holding a 2 run lead--heck maybe even holding a 9 run lead would be nice. It doesn't matter if this team is winning 15-0 in the 8th; there's still good odds they'll loose with this sham of a bullpen--fix that and thank god the starters had all the complete games in the ALCS in 05

Garland is the most sensible candidate for move besides Jose C, because he's only signed through next year. And if two of either Danks, Gonozalez, Floyd or Broadway develop, they would have to move someone else.

But there is a logic to dumping Vasquez, too. The team is going to need some cap to free up space to sign at least one outfielder and probably an entire bullpen. Vasquez would free up money.

That said, this team really isn't that far off from getting back into it next season. Two things of killed them this year. Injuries and the bullpen. If they can get some healthy OF's and a two relievers, they will be back in business.

not to belittle the point; but the Sox beat Astros 1-0 in game four of WS. Pitching and smart defense win championships; bats are secondary. Unless he's going to blow up the entire team, then KW needs to overhaul the bullpen. That's the only thing he should be shopping for in a trade situation if you ask me--and he sure shouldn't be creating new holes in the process. If he can trade Thome for someone that can actually score from third on a deep outfield fly ball (tampa game; out at the plate); let alone get from 2nd to home on a single...that would be acceptable too.

William's should just trade Contreras for the best possible option he can get, preferebly a speedster in the outfield to substitute Pods. I also like the potential deal for Linebrink and Greene for Uribe and Dye, we need to get younger and have a better defense.

After seeing what is down on the farm, it is time to get some outfield, relief, and ss help. We have Contreras and Garland as far as I am concerned to trade and maybe Thome ( except he has a no trade contract). I would rather see Konerko become DH as he gets older and sure he would do a great job. I think the bad deal was losing Rowand's bat and defense. It changed the team. Danks seems like a keeper with Buhrle and Vasquez who seems to have the best stuff. We have a couple of starters moving up and they need to get there chance. On Williams, he is doing a good job. If it was easy, the Yankees, Bosox and Mets would win every year because of there money.

FYI
Connor Jackson and Carlos Quinten were considered top prospects in the minors by MLB.
Both are struggling this year but are still quality players. D backs have a log jamb at 1rst base and the OF.Keep dreaming on Chris Young.

Executives from the Diamondbacks and White Sox got a laugh out of a published report Tuesday that said Conor Jackson played left field on Monday night in order to showcase him in a potential trade. A White Sox official sent a sarcastic e-mail to a Diamondbacks official that said, "Let us know next time you're showcasing someone for us."